Dotcom advertising goes mobile & outdoors… courtesy Delhi’s infamous autorickshaws
Looking for a simple and inexpensive way of getting the word out about the cool website you just launched. You could take a leaf out of Delhi’s infamous autorickshaws, which are increasingly acting as mobile billboards. Mouthshut, OkTataByeBye & BuySellOldBooks seem to be early adopters of this genre of outdoor advertising. I started noticing these autos on Delhi’s streets some time back but lately, their numbers seem to be multiplying like rabbits. Check out these snaps that I clicked with my cameraphone.
I think these ‘auto-ads‘ are very high impact and specially effective at getting eyeballs from first time users (read non internet savvy audience). I have no clues about the cost or the mechanism by which these ads land up on the autos. In case you know something , do share it with Webyantra’s readers.
This is from Delhi; I am sure there are examples in other Indian cities (or abroad) where web startups are turning to low cost, non conventional modes of advertising. Do you know of any? Write to me or send me links/snaps; I’ll add them to this post….
What do you think of this?
Vikas on Apr 20, 2007
Cheap and effective. Would be interesting to know what the per banner comes out to.
Rohitesh on Apr 20, 2007
I have seen them around in Bangalore for quite a while now. I think mouthshut.com, and eatoutzone.com are among the popular ones, that I have noticed.
@Vikas : Yes. I think it will be pretty interesting to find out, what are the rates to advertise via this medium.
Ankur on Apr 20, 2007
Mumbai. kijiji.com, mouthshut.com.
Udit on Apr 20, 2007
Autos typically charge between Rs.100-Rs.200 per ad (in Delhi). The ad usually wears out in 1-2 months. Additional expenses on the stickers and manpower also add up.
Sudhanshu on Apr 20, 2007
The mode of payment to the auto rickhaw owners is one-time which can range anything from Rs.30-100 and the quality of the paint used in writing the name of the website on the hood of the auto cannot be easily removed. Each company targets around 100-150 autos.
Link
And I can’t remember where I read it, but MouthShut.com , which started this mode of advertisement, now has it’s name on close to 12,000 rickshaws in India, across almost 7 cities.
They had spent almost Rs 60,000 on the whole exercise.
Amitabh on Apr 20, 2007
lol….that’s awesome! India has always been extremely creative when it comes to advertising and marketing…I guess this is just another example..
Big V on Apr 21, 2007
I agree its cheap, but I doubt most marketers will be up for it. I for one would not want my brand to be associated with an ugly, old, pollutant rickshaw.
I suppose its only a matter of time before lariwalas carry it around.
urdev on Apr 23, 2007
Yes, I was surprised to see an ad in the billboard behind a Madurai town bus reading services of http://www.maduraiitians.com. Also, quite recently I saw some ads of websites in Chennai bus stops!
Nilesh Trivedi on Apr 26, 2007
Check out this insanely creative billboard ad by kingfisher. The marketers at Jet Airways must be swearing a lot !
Raman Mittal on Apr 26, 2007
yeah…auto advertising has become a cheap and useful source to create awareness bout one’s product…i was preety interested in knowing the cost for such advertising…its around 50 bucks per auto…that too if you get the ad painted…if you simply paste the poster then it depends on your persuation skills…you may end up paying nothing…another startup that is using this new creative awareness tool is mapmyindia.com….
Ramesh on May 4, 2007
hey this whole autorickshaw thing was started by mouthshut.com way back in 2001. i remember seeing their ads in bombay in 2001. all other are imitation of mouthshut. someone wrote that mouthshut did 12000 rickshaws in india, but i read in economic times that mouthshut did 12,000 rickshaws in DELHI alone!!! they have it in many other cities. you can google mouthshut autorickshaws or check their press section . truly amazing concept
Yuva on May 9, 2007
great idea.. and great marketing tool.
shashi kant on May 16, 2007
Hi,
Can u pls tell me if I want to advertise on an autorickshaw how do I go about doing it. Do I need to contact every rickshaw wala or should I go to their association if any.
arjun on May 24, 2007
well the real question is, has this mode of advertising really helped the organisations in question????
amit karnwal on May 29, 2007
i m interested for auto add.so plz give me your contact details.
Sridhar on Jun 4, 2007
I have caught Oracle going the auto style….in Banglore
More details posted here
http://srinix.wordpress.com/2007/06/04/now-even-oracle-going-the-autorickshaw-style/
winslie gomez on Jun 4, 2007
Makes sense!
Text against a yellow background would be clear and crisp. Secondly it’s at a good height for both pedestrians and drivers.
Thirdly the exposure for the frugal investment makes sense too
winslie
Rahul Bansal on Jun 18, 2007
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Mrugesh on Jun 25, 2007
Interview with Faisal Farooqui : Founder of MouthShut.com
Faisal Farooqui is the founder and CEO OF MouthShut.com.MouthShut.com is the leader in the consumer generated content space, offering consumer reviews in text and video format, and
his biggest satisfaction is that MouthShut has now been easily accepted and adopted by mainstream consumers.
http://www.loscreador.com/2007/06/22/mouthshut-mind-open-lc-listens-to-faisal-farooqui/
pearly benjamin on Nov 14, 2007
Hi…
Can u please let me know how i can advertise on autos in Chennai… whom should i contact…
Pritam on Jul 2, 2008
Even http://www.interviewduniya.com has came up with good concept with their portal.
You can search for people of a particular IT company and ask them to help in u interview or to refer u in theor company.
that’s gr8 idea.